Electric Bike Burned the House

A Different Perspective on Transportation and Change

The phrase "electric bike burned the house" has been making frequent headlines, raising concerns about the safety of electric mobility and creating the impression that e-bikes pose a significant risk to life and property. However, if we take a step back and examine the data in a broader context, it becomes clear that this focus on e-bike dangers may be serving a different purpose. For instance, there were nearly 300 deaths caused by knife stabbings last year in the UK, yet we don’t see a wave of articles targeting knife manufacturers. While this comparison might seem simple, I’ll offer a deeper look at why this 'issue' is being pushed so hard by the media.

Time travel…

Let’s take a trip back to the early 1900s and meet Le Corbusier, the brilliant Swiss architect. If you've ever visited Chandigarh, you’ll understand his genius. For Le Corbusier, the car was the central element in shaping his modern visions of the city. At the time, this idea was so forward-thinking that it took the world another 50 years to realize and implement some of these concepts. The car symbolised the future. I still remember family trips back then, all of us packed into a Fiat 500, traveling hundreds and hundreds of kilometres together.The automotive industry grew so powerful that it became a central force driving the economies of the U.S. and Europe. The car lobby became so influential that it was nearly impossible to challenge the narrative that owning a car was essential.

!!! Only a few forward-thinking countries, like the Netherlands and Denmark, managed to break away from these trends. !!!

By the 2000s, nearly everyone had a car, with some families owning two or three. Cities were over-polluted, parking was scarce, oil prices were high, and traffic in big cities had become a nightmare. In places like London, within zones 2-3, it's faster to reach 80% of destinations by bike than by car. In Berlin, it's true for nearly all trips. We didn’t develop the linear cities or the kind of society Le Corbusier envisioned. Using a car for every trip within urban areas simply doesn’t work anymore.

New Way…

We’re at a historical turning point, much like when cars replaced horses—change is inevitable, and it's already underway. Now, it's up to the automotive industry to adapt and find its role in modern transportation, or risk becoming the next Kodak or Nokia. No one doubts that there is still a place for cars in urban mobility, but not in the same way as in the past.

What about the e-bikes catching fire?

Finally, to return to where we started, yes, there have been e-bikes that have caught fire, but the media often exaggerates these dangers, heavily influenced by the automotive industry. This sensationalism turns minor issues into major threats. While it's true that the e-bike market needs regulation, e-bikes represent the future of commuting. They allow you to avoid traffic jams, arrive without breaking a sweat, and reach your destination faster than by car. E-bikes are not just a trend; they are a logical solution to the challenges of urban transportation.